The Sanskrit words "udaka" (उदक) meaning "water", and "udak"/"udaṅga"/"uttara" meaning "northern" or "upper", do appear similar phonetically, yet they have different etymologies, but interestingly, both derive from the same root √ud (उद्) meaning "to rise, go up". Let’s examine both: 1. उदक (udaka) – "Water" Root: From √ud (to flow, to wet, to rise) + suffix -ka, forming a neuter noun. Meaning: Water (as a rising or flowing element). Usage: Common … Continue reading Udagayana vs. Uttarāyaṇa: Unpacking a Common Astronomical Misunderstanding
Tag: Astronomy
Silence of The Lambs Exposed
There was a debate in Bharatiyavidparishad google group in 2021 on the refutation of our paper, “Ancient Updates to Sūrya-siddhānta”, presented in Oxford in 2018 where scientists and researchers from every corner of the globe had come to present their papers. This blog aims to bring to your attention how some folks in a Vitaṇḍā … Continue reading Silence of The Lambs Exposed
Sacrifice of Śunaśepa
The society evolved better with different methodology of sacrificing (time) with Yūpa (gnomon/pole) and Caśāla (Hexagonal feeder to birds) later to bear hunting and the last incident of human sacrifice of Śunaśepa is recorded in Aitareya Brāhmaṇan and Rāmāyaṇa, both with Śunaśepa, but under different kinship like those of Hariṣcandra and Ambariṣa. Interestingly, Hariṣcandra and … Continue reading Sacrifice of Śunaśepa
Omnipresence of Triśanku (Southern cross stars), Harīścandra and Ambarīṣa in Ṛgveda Saṃhitā
The astronomy connections... Ikṣvāku King Harīścandra and Ambarīṣa are mentioned one after the other in Maitrayāṇī Araṇyaka Upaniṣad. Read below the phrase said by Ikṣvākus King Bṛihadratha. 1) अथ किमेतैर्वा परेऽन्ये महाधनुर्धराश्चक्रवर्तिनः केचित्सुद्युम्नभूरिद्युम्नेन्द्रद्युम्नकुवलयाश्वयौवनाश्ववद्धियाश्वाश्वपतिः शशबिन्दुर्हारिश्चन्द्रोऽम्बरीषो ननूक्तस्वयातिर्ययातिनरण्योक्षसेनोत्थमरुत्तभरतप्रभृतयो राजानो मिषतो बन्धुवर्गस्य महतीं श्रियं त्यक्त्वास्माल्लोकादमुं लोकं प्रयान्ति ॥ १.५॥From this prapāṭhaka 1.4 we get information of ancient kings like … Continue reading Omnipresence of Triśanku (Southern cross stars), Harīścandra and Ambarīṣa in Ṛgveda Saṃhitā
Nakṣatra was used in the sense of star and the Sun in masculine form in Ṛgveda Saṃhitā
The sense of ‘star’ appears to be adequate for all or nearly all the passages in which the word Nakṣatra appears in the Ṛgveda. The etymological application of Nirukta ‘obtain’ for the root Nakṣ here is well received for the sun, on the contrary, the same etymology won’t apply for the moon going through a … Continue reading Nakṣatra was used in the sense of star and the Sun in masculine form in Ṛgveda Saṃhitā
The memory of Svāti’s non return to the celestial pole star region is hidden in the marriage Sūtra of Āpastamba-Gṛhya-Sūtra
In one of the articles, Hanumān’s leap towards Laṅkā and the Memory of Flight Path of Swāti Nakṣatra, which was published in MyInd online journal (read here), I had discussed about the flight path of Svāti, used as an adjective to Hanumāna's flight path to Laṅkā in Rāmāyaṇa. In this mentioned article it was concluded … Continue reading The memory of Svāti’s non return to the celestial pole star region is hidden in the marriage Sūtra of Āpastamba-Gṛhya-Sūtra
Seasons went to Asuras
We come across many astronomy incidents and knowledge in Ṛg-veda, and it never stops astonishing me either. In Ṛg-veda-8.96.9 I came across "Asura adevā", which gives a notion of opposites ( in nature, position etc). "Asura adevā"-Ṛg-veda-8.96.9 Yet another synonym which Halayudha Kosha has recorded- "Asura pūrvedevāḥ" which appears to say that initially the Asuras … Continue reading Seasons went to Asuras
Fascinating Astronomical and Eustatic Observation by King Bṛhadratha
Let us see some interesting observations of King Bṛhadratha in the Maitrayāṇī Upanishad (MAU). I have once mentioned King Bṛhadratha, in one of my previous blogs, who is a Rigvedic Ikṣvāku lineage king mentioned in Rigveda (I. 36.18, X. 49.6). The Maitrayāṇī Upanishad - MAU has very interesting various evidence in regard to noticing of Astronomy … Continue reading Fascinating Astronomical and Eustatic Observation by King Bṛhadratha
Tasminneva Agrahāyaṇī-Some traces of lost constellations- Part 1
Orion in the middle - Above Auriga and below Columba and little below is Vela constellation not seen in this pic. Vyomavarga- Amarkosha Observation is the key to understand time in Astronomy Observation is the key to understand time in Astronomy, not only in the watching of the sky but also from inside the Sanskrit … Continue reading Tasminneva Agrahāyaṇī-Some traces of lost constellations- Part 1
Matriarchal Cosmos-When Yin Was Yang
Gharma-vRRiddhii- Vedang jyotisha- Insolation in Northern hemisphere during summer, spring and winter. From spring to summer to fall Northern hemisphere is hotter than southern hemisphere. "Navarātra- New nights or Nine nights" is a memory of propitiation of Durga in different forms like different Mātṛkā during first nine days. We have this cultural memory in Devi … Continue reading Matriarchal Cosmos-When Yin Was Yang
Rupa Bhaty 